Colin in Tizz over Cue Card chances

Colin Tizzard says that winning the Gold Cup with Cue Card at Cheltenham on Friday would represent the pinnacle of his training career.

Tizzard reports his stable star as ‘happy as Larry’ as the 10-year-old bids to land the £1million National Hunt bonus prize put up by the Jockey Club for completing the hat-trick of the Betfair Chase, The King George and the Gold Cup.

“I’ve never seen Cue Card look so well, he is in brilliant shape,” said the dairy farmer turned trainer, who has enjoyed a golden season.

“I’m so proud of Cue Card, it is a fairytale really.

“I’m expecting a mighty run in the Gold Cup because he comes alive there.

“He just loves the place, having won three of his seven races at Cheltenham and only finishing out of the top four once.”

Tizzard says the two-and-a-half-month gap before Cheltenham has provided the perfect respite for Cue Card and has no doubts that the six-time Grade One winner, who is as short as 5-1, will stay the distance.

“Before, I used to think that he might stay, but now I know he will,” said Tizzard.

“He is a completely different horse – he looks like a thorough three mile chaser now.

“To see Cue Card win the King George at Kempton like he did was unbelievable really after he had sluiced up at Haydock Park in November.

“The bonus (£1 million) I thought was an impossible task but we are one win away now.

“To win the Gold Cup, though, would be the greatest moment of my career.”

Haydock Park general manager Jason Fildes said: “We are all willing Cue Card on because Haydock was where his amazing adventure began in November, winning the Betfair Chase.”